Mud-guard for vehicle-wheels.



f E. BRUNSWICK. MUD GUARD FOR VEHICLE WHEELS.

I APPLICATION FILED DEC- 20 I913- 1.,1fi128. Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

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MUD GUARD FOR VEHICLE WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20. 1913.

% A g Q Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- EDOUABD BRUNSWICK, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

MUD-GUARD FOR VEHICLE-WHEELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

Application'filed Decemb'erQO, 1913. Serial No. 807,898.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, EDOUARD BRUNSWICK, a citizen of'the Republic ofFrance,residing at 4A Faubourg du Temple, Paris, Seine, France,mechanical engineer, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mud-Guards for Vehicle-Vheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to annular diskshaped mud-guards applicable tovehicle wheels and intended to prevent ,latera] splashing of mud by thewheels.

It is the object of the invention to provide improved means for mountingsuch mudguards to the wheel rims, by means of a splitted metal ringsimultaneously hooked and tightened .on the rim, and improved means ofretaining elastically the mudguard in its support or ring.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein z-Figure 1 is an elevation showing one form of ring for carrying themudguard. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view showing a method oftightening the said ring on the rim. Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sections ofpneumatic tired wheels showing the application of the mud-guard tofiXed'rim-s. Fig. 5 is a similar section showing its application to adetachable rim. Figs. 6 to 9 are corresponding sectio-nal views showingthe application of the mud-guard to rims for solid tires. Fig. 10 is alongitudinal sectional view of the oint of the rim shown in Fig, 8. Fig.11 is a detail view of the coiled spring which may be used for retainingthe mud guard elastically in place showing how its ends are coiledtogether and Fig. 1-2 is a perspective viewof a portion or" thecorresponding mud-guard. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a wheel fittedwith a mud-guard, and Figs. 14 and 15 are detail views of a modifiedconstruction of the metal ring.

The annular disk-like mud-guard 1, which may be made of rubber withembedded fab ric, or of leather or the like, may be retained in thecircumferential groove 2 of its carrying metal ring 3 either by its ownelasticity alone (Figs. 3,'6 and 7) or by the use of an extensible rodor coiled spring 29 (Figs. 5, 8, 9, 11 and 12'). The ring?) has anannular hoolzor flange 1 formed to hook over edge of the wheel rim '51(.F:igs.x3 :to7). The ring 3, Fig. 1, is split at 6,and its ends 8 and9 are drawn together to tighten the hooked flange 1 on the rim 5, bymeansof a bolt 10. The point 7 of the flange 4: (Figs 3 if they arerigid can be made up of two or any number of sections .joined togetherby bolts as in Figs. 1 and 2. The-edge of the ring 3 outside the groove2 projects downward slightly farther than the inner edge, in order thatit may strike first an obstruction or thecurb for instance on which themud guard would run. In this manner the mudguard is protected fromdamage as it can bend inward into the dot and dash position as shown inFig. 8.

' lnfFig. 5 the1ring 3 with its hook 4: forms the second portionof thedetachable rim for holding the :tire in place, and it is suspendedfronithe rim 5 by means of its rib 15 engaging with a correspondinggroove in the rim portion 16 and tightened by the bolt 10 ashereinbefore described.

In Fig. 6 when the metal rim 5 of the wheel is of channel( PDshapathering 3. hooks behind the edge '17 of the rim and is ofsuch section thatthe groove 2 is sufficiently high above the ground to leave room for theguard.

In Fig. 7 the ring 3 clamps by a rib 18 in a groove 19 of the flat rim5.

In Figs. 8 and 1.0 the bolt 10 is provided with two nuts 13 which reston the hearing surfaces 20 at the ends of the ring 3. The sectionof thering 3 is so chosen that it surrounds the -rim5 of the wheel on which itis at the same time fixed by being circumferentially clamped andtightened thereon, the clamping being effected by saw teeth 21, providedin the ring 3 .(Fig. 9) which =engage with corresponding teeth in therim '5 The ends of the ring 3 are brought into alinement by two bolts 22which are fixed into one end of the ring and project :over the opening 6into corresponding borings in the other end of the ring, so that theassemblage of the rim and ring is considerably facilitated and the twoends of the ring are drawn together correctly. The outer side.

' guard 1 and the rim 5 from shocks. In addition to this the projectingedge 24k of the ring 3 protects the mudguard 1 and the rim 5 when thewheel runs upon a low curb.

The mud-guard in this case bends toward the rubber. tire 26, as in Fig.8, and the rim 2 is not liable to become damaged, as the ring 3 byreason of its section offers considerable resistance, and distributesthe shock over a large surface of the rim. Cylindrically or sphericallycurved washers 27 may be used at the ends of the bolt 10 working incorresponding recesses, in order that the stresses on the bolt mayalways be in a straight line. The bearing surfaces 20 can also be opentoward the outside so that the bolt can be swung out laterally, or theymay be simply drilled so that the bolt can only be withdrawn axiallyafter completely unscrewing one nut. The bearing surfaces 20 could beinternally screw threaded to be en gaged by threads on the bolt 10, inwhich case the ends of the ring would be forced apart on unscrewing thebolt. An oppositely screwed bolt and nut couldv also be used for thesame purpose. Naturally this separation of the ends of the ring willusually be produced by the elasticity of the ring itself. 28 is awedge-shaped filling piece.

As shown in Fig. 9 the mud-guard 1 is curved instead of being flat- Themud-guard 1 is advantageously secured in the groove 2 of its supportingring 3 by means of an expansible rod 29, for example a spiral spring.For this purpose a steel spiral spring 29 of which the ends areconnected together is inclosed in the mud guard 1 of rubber-fabric. Asthe spring is as elastic as the rubber mud-guard 1, it permits of themudguard being passed over the edge 30 of the ring 3 into the groove 2(Fig. 12). The length of the spring 29 forming a circle, is such thatits diameter in the normal condition of the spring, is

somewhat smaller than that of the groove 2, and that when applying themud-guard this is tightened in the groove 2 by the spring. Forconnecting together the two ends of the spring 29 the end coils areseparated by a distance equal to the diameter of the wire, and then thecoils of one end of the spring which has been thus unwound, are screwedinto the coils at the other end, so that for a certain length the twocoils engage in one another, thus providing a connection which is aspliant andelastic both transversely and longitudinally as any other partof the spring.

shape as at 31, so that they will wedge between the other coils, thusgradually spreading these apart.

The employment of the elastic ring 29 has the advantage that themud-guard while being quite safely secured is easily removable andretains its elasticity indefinitely without being affected by exteriorinfluences, as is the case when rubber alone is used. The continuousextensible ring or annular spring 29 may be replaced by two or moresprings connected together by inextensible members without destroyingeither the elasticity of the strengthened part of the mud-guard or thefirmness of the connection between the mud-guard and the metal ring.

Experience has shown that in the case of wheels of light vehicles, it ispossible to omit the bolt 10 so as to make the metal ring lighter, tofacilitate the mounting and re moval of the mud-guard and also toimprove the appearance (Fig. 13). In the disengaged condition, the twoends 8 and 9 of the ring overlap one another, or preferably are placedside by side (Fig. 14) one of the ends 8 is provided with a bolt 22which when fitting the parts together, engages freely with a hole 22suitably formed in the other end 9 (Fig. 15). In this manner the closurebetween the two ends is rendered practically invisible and thetightening of the ring 3 and consequently its clamping to the rim arepractically insured by the elasticity of the metal ring and by themudguard l, fittedwith its strong spring 29, which close the ring andprevent it from being opened; it is even possible to omit the bolt 22and its hole, the two ends 8 and 9 simply coming face to face.

I am aware that tightening-rings have already been proposed incombination with 7 rim, a groove formed in said annular memher, anannular disk-like mud-guard mounted in said groove, an extensionrod-ring retaining the mud-guard in the groove, said rod-ring beingembedded in the mud-guard during the vulcanization thereof.

2. The combination with a wheel rim and a tire held therein, of anexpansible and contractible splitted annular member, said member havingan annular hooked edge corresponding in shape to the hooked edge of therim with which it is adapted to engage circularly so as to projectlaterally therefrom, means for circumferentially tightening the annularmember on the wheel rim, a groove formed in said annular member, anannular disk-like mud-guard mounted in said groove and projecting freelyoutward toward the tread of the tire, an extensible rod ring retainingthe mud-guard in the groove, said rod ring being embedded in themud-guard during the vulcanization thereof.

3. The combination with a wheel rim of an eXpansible and contractiblesplitted annular member, said member having an annular edgecorresponding in shape to the edge of the rim with which it is adaptedto engage circularly, means for circumferentially tightening the annularmember on the wheel rim, a gro ve formed in said annular memher, anannular disk-like mud-guard mounted in said groove, a spiral spring-ringretaining the mud-guard in the groove, said spiral ring being embeddedin the mudguard during the vulcanization thereof.

i. The combination with a wheel rim of an expansible and contractiblesplitted annular member, said member having an annular hooked edgecorresponding in shape to the hooked edge of the rim with which it isadapted to engage circularly and to project outwardly therefrom, meansfor circumferentially tightening the annular member on the wheel rim, agroove formed in said annular member, an annular disk-like mudguardmounted in said groove and extending toward the tread of the tiremounted on said rim, said guard tapering toward its free edge, a spiralspring ring retaining the mudguard in the groove, said spiral ring beingembedded in the mud-guard during the vulcanization thereof.

5. The combination with a wheel rim; of an annular expansible andcontractible member, means for circuinferentially tightening the annularmember on the wheel rim, a flange on said annular member, said flangebeing adapted to engage with the rim, a groove formed in said annularportion, the side of the member outside said groove being enlarged, amud-guard mounted in said groove, a spiral spring ring retaining themud-guard in the groove, said spiral spring ring being embedded in themud-guard during the vulcanization thereof.

6. The combination with a wheel rim; of an expansible and contractiblesplitted annular member, said member having an annular edgecorresponding in shape to the edge of the rim with which it is adaptedto engage circularly, means for circumferentially tightening the annularmember on the wheel rim, a groove formed in said annular member, anannular disk like mud-guard in said groove and an expansible rod-ringretaining the mud-guard in the groove.

7. The combination with a wheel rim; of an annular eXpansible andcontractible member, means for circumferentially tightening the annularmember on the wheel rim, a flange on said annular member, said flangebeing adapted to engage with the rim, a groove formed in said annularportion, a mud-guard mounted in said groove and having a portion thereofsprung into and serving to retain said mud-guard against displacementbut permitting expansion and removal thereof.

8. The combination with a wheel rim of an eXpansible and contractiblesplitted metal ring, of essentially C O-like section, said ring havingan annular interior hooked flange corresponding in shape to the hookedflange of the metal rim with which it is adapted'to engage circularly,and an annular exterior groove, an annular disk-like mud-guard mountedin said groove, a strong spiral spring ring embedded in the mudguardduring the vulcanization thereof, the said spring ring retaining themud-guard in the groove and simultaneously insuring the tightening ofthe splitted ring and its clamping to the rim.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDOUARD BRUNSWICK.

Witnesses BENJAMIN BLOCK, HYLAIN FLo Un'r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

